Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-04-13

q billiard cue in his land, and heurt over
charged with indignant emotion. u don't
mind saying " you, gentlemen, in conf
dence," said Jack to circle of sympathizing
players-"l don't mind telling you regarding
this thing, that was as soft on that freckled
faced, red eyed, tallow haired gal as if she'd
been-a-a-an actress. And l don't mind
saying, gentlemen, that, as far as under
stand women. she was ju:. as soft Oh me.
You kin laugh; but it's so. One day took
her out buggy riding-in style, too-and out
on the road l offered to do the square thing,
just as il she'd been lady-offered to marry
her then and there. And what did she dol" said
Jack, with hysterical laugh. "Why, blank
it all! offered me s25 a week allowance-pay
to be stopped when wasn't at home" The
roar OF laughter that greeted this frank con-
fesson was broken by a quiet voice asking,
"And what did you sayr-"Sayl" screamed
Jack, II just told her to 60 to - with her
money."-"They say" continued the quiet
voice, "tnat you asked her for the loan Of
$3.50 to get you to Sacramonto-and that you
got it"-"Who says sol" roared Jack. "Show
me the blank liar" There was a dead silence.
Then the possessor of the quiet voice, Mr.
Jack Hamlin, languidly reached under the
table, took the chalk, and, rubbing the end
of his billiard cue, began with gentle gravity:
ut was an old friend of mine in Sacramento,
man with a wooden ley, game eye, three
fingers on bis right hand and a consumptive
cough. Being unable, naturally, to back
himself, he leaves things to ME. So, for the
sake of argument" continued Hamlin, sud-
denly laying down his cue and fixing his
wicked black eyes on the speaker, "say it's
mel"
lam afraid that this story, whether truth
full or not, did not tend to increase Pegs pop
ularity in a community where recklessness
and generosity condoned for the absence of
all the other virtues; and it Is possible also
that Red Dog was no more free from preju-
dice than other more civilized but equally
disappointed matchmakers. Likewise, dur
ing the following year, she made several more
foolish ventures, and lost heavily In fact, a
feverish desire to increase her store at almost
any risk seemed to possess her. At last 1t
was announced that she intended to reopen
the infelix Rockville hotel, aud keep it
herself. Wild as this scheme appeared
in theory, when put into practical
operation there seemed to be some
chance Of success. Much, doubtless, was
owing to her practical knowledge Of hotel
keeping, but more to her rigid economy and
untring industry. The mistress Of millions,
she cooked, washed, waited on table, made
the beds and labored like common menial
Visitors were attracted by this novel specta-
Gle. The income of the house increased as
their respect for the hostess lessened. No
anecdote Of her avarice was too extravagant
for current belief 1t was even alleged that
she had been known to carry the luggage Of
guests to their rooms, that she might antici-
pate the usual porters gratuity. She denied
herself the ordinary necessaries of life. She
was poorly clad, she was ill-fed-but the
hotel was making money.
A'few hinted of insanity; Others shook their
heads, and said curse was entailed on the
property. 1t was believed, also, from her
appearance, that she could not long survive
this tax on her energies, and already there
was discussion as to the probable final dispo-
sition Of her property.
It was the peculiar fortune Of MIR. Jack
Hamlin to be able to set the world right on
this and other questions regarding her.
A stormy December evening had set in
when be Glanced to be a guest at the Rock.
willie hotel. He had, during the past week,
been engaged in the prosecution Of his noble
profession at Red Dog, and had, i'll the
graphic language OF coadjutor, Cleared out
the town, except his fare in the pockets OF the
stage driver" The Red Dog Standard had
bewailed his departure in playful obituary
verse, beginning, "Dearest Johnny, thou
hast left u.s." wherein the rhymes "bereft us''
and "deplore" carried vague allusion to "a
thousand dollars more" A quiet content
ment naturally suffused his personality, and
he was more than usually lazy and deliberate
in his speech. At midnight, when he was
about to retire, he was little surprised,
however, by tap on his door, followed by
the presence OF Mistress Peg Moffat, heiress,
and landlady of Rockville hotel.
Mr.. Hamlin, despite his previous defense OF
Peg, had no liking for her. His fastidious
taste rejected her uncomeliness; his habits OF
thought and life were all antagonistic to
what he had heard of her niggardliness and
greed AS she stood there, in dirty calico
wrapper, still redolent with the days cuisine,
crimson with embarrassment and the recent
heat Of the kitchen range, she certainly was
not an alluring apparition. Happily for the
lateness OF the hour, her loneliness and the
infelix reputation Of the man before her, she
was at least safe one. And fear the very
consciousness Of this scarcely relieved her
embarrassment.
u wanted to say few words to ye alone,
MIR. Hamlin," she began, taking an unofered
seat on the end Of his portmanteau, "or !
shouldn't hev intruded. But it's the only
time can ketch You, or you me; for I'm
down in the kitchen from sunup till now."
She stopped awkwardly, as If to listen to the
wind, which was rattling the windows, and
spreading o film OF rain against the opaque
darkness without. Then, smoothing her
wrapper over her knees, she remarked, as II
opening deSultory conversation:
"Thar's power of rain outside"
Mr.. Hamlin's only response to this mete-
geological observation was yawn, and pre-
liminary tug at his coat as he began to re-
move it.
II thought ye couldn't mind doin' me a
favor" continued Peg, with a hard, awk-
ward laugh, "partik'ly seein' ez folks allowed
you'd sorter bin friend O. mine, and he'd
stood up for mo at times when you hedn't
any partikler call to do it. I hewitt" she
continued, looking down on her lap, and
following with her finger and thumb seam
of her gown-"I hevn't so many friends ez
slings q kind word for me these times that
disremember them" Her under lip quivered
up a little here; and, after vainly hunting
for a forgotten handkerchief, she finally
lifted the hem Of her gown, wiped her snub
nose upon it, but left the tears still in her
eyes as she raised them to the man.
Mr.. Hamlin, who had by this time divested
himself of his coat, stopped unbuttonins his
waistcoat, and looked at her.
alike ez not tharll be high water Oh tho
North Fork, eff this rain keeps on" said Peg,
as if apologetically, looking toward the win
dow.
The other rain having ceased, Mr.. Hamlin